Donkeys are the most numerous working equine globally, with millions used in low-income countries under conditions that cause significant suffering. Improving donkey welfare has a large potential impact.
Working donkeys occupy an ethical space that is different from pet or farm animals in wealthy countries — they are essential tools for household survival in communities with no alternatives. The welfare response must therefore be practical: equipping owners with knowledge and resources to improve conditions rather than campaigning to remove animals from work. Harness design improvements, hoof care education, dental treatment, and load management training make enormous differences to working donkey welfare at very low cost. Supporting organizations that work in this way provides high-impact welfare improvement per dollar of donation.